Sea Lice from Farmed Fish Killing Wild Salmon Populations

According to a report conducted by the University of Otego in New Zealand, the presence of fish farms negatively impacts nearby wild fish populations from the spread of sea lice. The study was conducted on farmed and wild salmon in New Zealand. Sea lice flourish in the crowded conditions of a conventional fish farm, and when wild fish contract sea lice as juveniles they are deadly.

Previous studies on the same issue were flawed and skewed in the favour of ocean fish farming. Opinion pieces have already started to surface in the media coming down on the side of the fish farms where they have a significant financial impact. Indoor aquaculture and better measures to segregate fish farms from wild populations could solve this contentious issue.